Chuck Todd: “Are all pickup drivers racist?”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Perez Dodges Answer

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Northam Still Defends Despicable Ad; Continued Silence From Kaine, Warner

Unable to answer pointed questions from NBC’s Chuck Todd about the implications of a widely condemned television ad, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez joined Democratic nominee for governor Ralph Northam in defense of the ad’s content, which even The Washington Post’s editorial board called “vile” and “despicable.”

CHUCK TODD: I’m sure you’ve been familiar with the ad itself and the controversy around the ad, and the Republican party’s response, that it was basically — Democrats don’t like it when, you know, when Republicans stereotype. Aren’t you stereotyping? I drive a pickup truck. Are all pickup truck drivers racist?That’s what the ad — do you understand why some people think the ad implies that?

TOM PEREZ: Well, you know, Chuck, let’s be clear about what’s happening in the race in Virginia and all too many races — dog whistle politics… When you hit the bully back and the bully starts crying, those are crocodile tears to me.

While the ad has received broad condemnation from both parties, including from two Democratic members of Virginia’s House of Delegates and Governor Terry McAuliffe, who on Friday said the ad “wasn’t fair,” Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have remained silent.

Both of Virginia’s Senators are hitting the campaign trail all weekend long for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam. Do they stand with Ralph Northam who has still, even at this late date, refused to condemn the ad, and in fact has been revealed to have helped coordinate its production and DNC Chair Tom Perez, OR do they stand with Governor McAuliffe in making clear that the ad “wasn’t fair”?